Restoration of BUS 670

Started by Buzz Killington, September 21, 2010, 07:36:47 PM

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Buzz Killington

Help Needed!

ex ACTION Bus 670 is now owned by forum member chris_guru and located in Canberra. We are seeking willing members to help out with various jobs restoring the bus and donations to help out with the costs involved with storage and registration.

If you can help out in any way, please contact chris_guru via the forum's private messaging system.

Snorzac

670 has been purchased. More coming later

Snorzac

Here are the pictures of 670 from yesterday, photos of other buses at Interline will be posted this time tomorrow.

The first photo is of the effort to start the bus, after the little battery pack proved useless, a B10M Mk IV was brought over and it was jump started, even though it hadn't been started in over a year it started first go and was very quick to build air!

The interior of the bus whilst it was been loaded up with all sorts of things, the object in the rear stairwell is a bumper off ex 794 which has met a dismal end.

Equipped with new batteries, 670 is started and ready to be moved to the workshops for replacement of the front tyres.

On it's way.

A turn

One happy driver/owner.

The missing corner window, won't be for much longer, we took a few out of the other buses.

Into their workshops

All ready to be moved to Westbus Bonnyrigg where it will be housed.

The trade plate.

I have a lot of pictures of the other mercs (664, 667, and 668-668 had an unfortunate encounter with a forklift) as well as the fucked Reanault (794) and many other Renaults on working order.

Busnerd

Typical work computers have flickr blocked so i cannot see your photos :(

Buzz Killington

Photos are also available from ACT Bus Gallery.

Buzz Killington


CNG


Buzz Killington

An update from Chris:

"Desto roll fitted. Have done the rust inside, fixed the doors and got all the lights working. She is about to get a full degrease and a tub inside and out"


The Love Guru

Here are some shots from a rather extensive weekend spent working on the bus.

Completed this weekend were:-

Removal of rust from window frames, which were then filled, sanded and painted
Removal of rust from around rear window
Removal of loose paint from roof
Full engine degrease, which hadn't been done for a very long time
Installed side desto box and number and desto blinds
Swap torn seats for good ones
Adjust doors
Install shade cover on dash
Changed license plate lights to LED type (due to poor quality of part on bus)
Re-apply side gutters and rubber stripping
Re-rivett numerous panels and strips, both inside and out
General clean and tidy up

Also need to thank MyWay for his help on Monday










Simes

Looking great, I caught a glimpse of #670 whilist some older O305's were "specialling" back to Oakville - photo request, #670 next to the younger TV 5323 please :)

Sir Pompously

Where, pray tell, is Toggeranong? Ha, it is looking very good Chris.

Snorzac


Buzz Killington

LOL.. I didn't even pick up on that one.

Buzz Killington

#13
Couple of desto pix I took yesterday. The bus was being painted today.










blackdragon

Toggeranong must be close to Condor.

The last time I checked a condor was a bird, maybe it should be Conder..

Buzz Killington

That was the only other typo I found on that roll, but I was reading the majority from inside and in reverse, so I could have missed some.

Bus 400




Sir Pompously

Ahhhh I remember that place, never went there but always went past it. I think most of the crap is still actually there, just heavily overgrown (Next to the Highway). They had closed down most of what is around it to try and get it developed, but that development has been happening for the last 9 years or so with little to no progress.

I would avoid going to any place called 'Canberry' though.

The Love Guru

Here are some more pics from the weekend. All going well she will be making the trip down the Hume on Thursday, hopefully registered next week sometime. Going to see if they will give me MO 670, tho not sure if you can request plates or not.



Note: Attachment has expired.

Barry Drive

#21
How about MO-305?

The Love Guru

After much thought and weighing up of options, it has been decided that 670 will now not be working in the Sydney area.

She was returned from Sydney to Canberra today, and may now never leave the ACT again. At this stage, she should be ready for a rego inspection in the next 2 weeks or so, and will then be put onto private registration purely for driving pleasure.

I will be having a working bee day once the seat arrives to get her ready for the inspection. Apart from a small oil leak she is pretty much is great shape. See how it goes at rego.

Also, i'm going to begin stripping all the NSW decals and school lights off her, as well as smoothing out any damaged areas (including the bit i did getting it in my driveway :-(
Will be looking to paint her into Z stripe livery in early Decemeber. May take her for a tour sometime in the new year in the new paint scheme.

In between now and then, once registered she will be going out for a day or two just to make sure everything is OK. Will advise those who want to know when this happens and all are welcome to tag along (for a small donation to the restoration fund)

Buzz Killington

Help Needed!

ex ACTION Bus 670 is now owned by forum member chris_guru and located in Canberra. We are seeking willing members to help out with various jobs restoring the bus and donations to help out with the costs involved with storage and registration.

If you can help out in any way, please contact chris_guru via the forum's private messaging system.

Sir Pompously

Have got a bunch of photos from my Flickr! of the journey today http://www.flickr.com/photos/kommissar_todd06/sets/72157625209990892/with/5102074456/

Larger resolution photos are found on Flickr! Am too tired to bother placing them all linked  :P








lukeo25

Sent Chris a message about me helping :) It would be nice to help out now that the bus is in Canberra.

Barry Drive

#26
Quote from: MyWay on October 19, 2010, 10:31:12 PM
How about MO-305?
Already gone: it's on a Murrays BCI.

Anyway photos from yesterday (more on Facebook):






Buzz Killington


Sir Pompously

Went by to visit 670 last night, all the seats are back in her and a small amount of work went on to fix up some bullet lights and some fit some rear lights (And the bullets) with LED's went on aswell.

The Love Guru

Quick update

670 is now fully registered, which is a nice relief. After much ado about lots of little issues and one major ADR compliance issue (which turned out to be a RTA stuff up, thanks for costing me over $500 in labor!), she passed with flying colours this morning.

I have modified the battery tray ever so slightly so that in now fully contains the 2 x 12volt (originally 4 x 6 volt) batteries. Also had to make the battery brace fit properly.

There is still a fair bit of work to do as listed below -

Minor body repairs in preperation for painting, as well as sanding the entire bus and making it suitable for the paint to adhere to.
Find origin of leaks in windows, water pooling on top of the bottom of the frame. Have a suspicion that it may actually be leaking through the rivets, which is a major concern as there should be water in there.
Minor smoothing and repair work to areas of rust in window frames (has been done once in a hurry, want a nicer finish than present)
Rear door air circuit has a sticky valve. Door only works when it is in the right mood (certainly an ex govt bus!)
Wheel balance
Change fuel filters
Grease/lube
Change transmission fluid

I'm sure there is more to add but that will do for now. Anyone with a few spare hours feel free to contact me and we can shoot the breeze whilst tackling a few tasks.

CNG

well with holidays coming up in three weeks I will be happy to help on thursday and fridays

The Love Guru

Bit of a call out for information and help in finding a cost effective home for 670.

ACTION were approached for storage, however this has been declined (obviously just not enough room at Woden), without any reason being given. One can only assume they don't want to have to explain it.

Anyway, with the avenue now closed, i'm on the look out for somewhere to store her. At the moment, i can get space at Mitchell and the self storage place, however it is $290 a month. So looking for something cheaper than that, that is fairly secure and not too far away.

If anyone has any suggestions, please leave a note in this thread or PM me.

Thanks

CT

Also, with the almost certain ongoing cost of housing the bus any donations will be very appreciated.

The Love Guru

Almost forgot. Hoping to have 670 ready for paint in the next week or so. Once again will gladly accept contributions to help with the cost of the paint.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a good place to purchase automotive paint? What sort of paint would be best? (would love to do 2pak paint but don't have the safety gear)

Hoping to get use of a shed for the job, but that is no certainty. I have all the gear to paint her, just need the man power and people willing to be patient whilst masking her up (it's a total pain in the ass to do, but is absolutely essential for a good finish).

One for Myway, Smitho or anyone who is old enough to remember. Was the black paint used a gloss or satin finish for the bumper and wheels?

The Love Guru

Have got the paint organised, now just require the capital to purchase it.

So, calling for donations of money and/or time. Feel free to PM me for details.

Hoping to start the painting ASAP. I have some free time (thanks night shift) so the body work will be finished inside the next week.

CNG

#34
I was thinking this would be hard however you could find some old advertisment posters to stick on.

smitho

Quote from: Chris_Guru on November 11, 2010, 08:05:58 PM


One for Myway, Smitho or anyone who is old enough to remember. Was the black paint used a gloss or satin finish for the bumper and wheels?
Belated reply (just saw this post) - Don't have much recollection of the paint details, but I reckon it was satin. I understand from Ed that you've gone for satin in any case.

The Love Guru

We have now almost completed the painting on 670. I am awaiting delivery of a fine detail airbrush to complet the areas that require touching up, as it seems that masking tape is damaging the newly painted areas if we use it.

There is only black paint to be applied to the window trims, which Interline had painted blue and grey.

With the help of Myway and Metrobus during the week, we achieved a lot. Detailed as follows

Applied Orange, Blue and Arctic green to the bus
Removed a majority of the over-spray
Recoated the bumper and touched up a lot of the black areas
Removed and painted the interior door handles
Repainted the inside of the doors
Repainted the wheel brushes (due to over spray)

I have also completed the mechanical stuff that needed doing, in particualr the fuel filters which i managed to cock up by not removing the old gaskets  ??? ??? ???

Pics of her current state are below




Buzz Killington


Sir

Saw you driving up the top of belco with a few passengers about an hour or so ago, it looks really good.

Busnerd

Yes we were on a invite only tour :P

Bus 400

#40
Does 670 shock any of the old timers at Belconnen Depot?

blackdragon

Spotted it parked outside the Canberra Museum and Gallery on London Cct on Saturday night too

Busnerd

Yes we were at dinner at the time.

The Love Guru

670 now has her full compliment of windows, with the R/H corner rear window/panel installed.

Big thanks to John "stretch" Tokaji for his help. The job is a pain in the ass until you figure out what to do, and then you face palm as it is rather simple LOL.

Buzz Killington

Good stuff. I'll have to come check it out one day, haven't seen her since before the paint job.

Busnerd

Fantastic! I'm sure that makes it look a lot more complete now, perhaps you should show todd how to change the windows cause we might need to remove ours to get to the rust next to the back window.

Look forward to a photo of the newly installed windows.

particleman

Look what I drove behind on the way home from uni the other day!!

Busnerd


Snorzac


Barry Drive

A new photo of Bus 670 has been added to the Gallery. Photo courtesy of Les Pascoe.


Ed

Very soon it'll have it's big merc badge back where it belongs (as I managed to source one).

CNG


King of Buses

Does anyone have a wayfarer set for the bus?
because I currently have three driver consoles and 2 validaters in my garage. I would only be able to Donate the one driver console and one validater as my brother has claimed one console and I've claimed a set! One set is from Bus 415 and one from 419 and the one which is my brothers is jammed so we cannot open it to discover which bus it is from!

Buzz Killington

Where is everyone finding these consoles?

Snorzac

We have our own collection, only a garage full ;)

Buzz Killington

Lol, that should assist the restoration cause for a few decades.

King of Buses

I got my three consoles and 2 validators from a Belconnen Mechanic!
One Console is from 415, the other from 419 and who knows what the other one came from as it is jammed shut!!

Snorzac


The Love Guru

** Update June 2011 **

Now sporting a shiny Mercedes "three pointed star" badge courtesy of Ed.

Painting of all the outstanding Interline livery has been completed. Orange paint has come up sub-standard and will be redone at a later date, when time, weather and finances permit.

Still to do :-

Stripping of passenger poles and repainting
Sanding and smoothing out of repairs to window frames
Repainting of orange paint
Repair oil leak in air compressor prior to next rego inspection

Sorry it has been a while since i lasted posted about progress, however time has been fairly scarce lately and very little has been done. That said, the bus is in reasonable condition and should serve all of the ACTION enthusiasts well for years to come.

smitho

I don't have any consoles at all, if that is any consolation...

The Love Guru

To due family circumstances and ongoing costs I have been forced to put 670 up for sale. She is listed on ebay if anyone wants to take a look at her.

Should anyone wish to buy her please let me know ASAP as i have had a very large interest on Ebay. Price is negotiable if it remains as a restoration project in the ACT.


route56

Chris, youve spelt mercedes wrong. i searched and couldnt find it using the correct spelling.

p_stampy

Ooh no :(

Is that why I saw her where she was yesterday?

CNG

Quote from: Chris_Guru on October 21, 2011, 12:27:37 PM
To due family circumstances and ongoing costs I have been forced to put 670 up for sale. She is listed on ebay if anyone wants to take a look at her.

Should anyone wish to buy her please let me know ASAP as i have had a very large interest on Ebay. Price is negotiable if it remains as a restoration project in the ACT.

I am sorry to hear that chris if i had had the money and a hr i would have bought her.

The Love Guru

Quote from: p_stampy on October 22, 2011, 01:37:08 PM
Ooh no :(

Is that why I saw her where she was yesterday?

Yes Stampy, she is here for an inspection from potential buyers. With over 100 people watching her on Ebay will be interesting to see how much she fetches.

That said, its not about the money for the bus, it's just the ongoing cost of keeping the bus going. After a couple of deaths in the family very close to me, we have had to put the little one into child care which is taking the money that was used to keep 670 on the road.

The Love Guru

It is with heavy heart that I must announce that 670 has been sold.

I would like to thank everyone that helped to make the last year very enjoyable. It was a lot of hard work, but the end result though a little rough around the edges, was certainly worth it.

It was only due some very close family moving on to the next life that this move was forced upon me.

If anyone wants to take one last look at her she is currently parked outside my place in Florey Dr. May even take her for one last drive later in the week.


The Love Guru

Just for those who don't know, 670 has gone to another enthusiast, Sydney based. I have been told she will remain in ACTION colours etc and may even venture back into orginal livery.

Kramden

I was angered to read the comments elsewhere by a total knob critical of 670's paint work.  Before I joined ACTION I used to see the old beast parked on Florey Drive and assumed (correctly) that it was in the hands of someone who cared enough about its preservation to do a lot of work on it.  I didn't know at that stage of Chris's ACTION connection.

Since then I've read various posts about its life and times.  It occurs to me that Chris should be admired for putting himself out there with 670 and doing the best he could with the resources at hand.  Good on those others who helped along the way too.  However, to the unfair critic of 670 I say, 'a pox on your house'.  The tone of your critique was all wrong.

CNG

Quote from: Kramden on November 03, 2011, 10:08:18 AM
I was angered to read the comments elsewhere by a total knob critical of 670's paint work.  Before I joined ACTION I used to see the old beast parked on Florey Drive and assumed (correctly) that it was in the hands of someone who cared enough about its preservation to do a lot of work on it.  I didn't know at that stage of Chris's ACTION connection.

Since then I've read various posts about its life and times.  It occurs to me that Chris should be admired for putting himself out there with 670 and doing the best he could with the resources at hand.  Good on those others who helped along the way too.  However, to the unfair critic of 670 I say, 'a pox on your house'.  The tone of your critique was all wrong.

I agree with Kramden, chris you put a great effort into that bus and I regret that I never found the time to ride it. I remember seeing it one night after work in the car and it just brought a smile to my eye that someone was trying to restore actions heritage.

Joshua2036

Quote from: The Love Guru on November 03, 2011, 12:55:29 AM
Just for those who don't know, 670 has gone to another enthusiast, Sydney based. I have been told she will remain in ACTION colours etc and may even venture back into orginal livery.

a update on  670 has been sold to another sydney based enthusiast and will return to ACTION COLOURS but shes needs alot of love and care  and hopefully sometime in the next 2 years make a trip back to canberra

Barry Drive

Return? Thought it already was.

Joshua2036

Quote from: Barry Drive on October 17, 2016, 02:16:41 PM
Return? Thought it already was.

unfortunately whoever did the original paint job on 670 didnt strip it back to bare metal so the interline colours have started to  come through and the Action colours have started to fall off which is shame

743

Many members of this board, who can read your comment, put many hours and a lot of work into the original restoration of 670 - I attended a tour on it during the restoration and I think it looked fantastic.

I think what you might find is it's not so much the original job that's causing its appearance today, it's more the fact that it's sat stagnant for many years without, I believe, any ongoing maintenance. So it's natural that things may start to decay.

I'm not pointing the finger at anyone - these are just the circumstances that the bus has faced.

So good on you for doing something with it, but please remember many people on this board have already contributed a lot of time to the bus, and may take offence at your comments.

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Joshua2036

yes thats a factor too she in a very sad state atm which upsets me abit but hopefully she can return to former glory and poor thing hasnt started in a while but i will keep all of you up to date the best i can

The Love Guru

Thanks for the update Joshua2036.

I did the paint work on 670 along with help from other members on the board here. Unfortunately i was very inexperienced when i did the paint on 670. You ate correct in that i failed to cut back the interline paint work far enough. If i had my time again i would do a much better job of it. I was a little disappointed in how she looked after we finished the painting. I spent a lot of money on some top quality paints however a lack of knowledge negated any quality in the product.

I wish you luck in restoring her and if you have any questions about her feel free to ask on here or via a PM.

All the best and thanks for saving her from the scrap yard.

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Joshua2036

Quote from: The Love Guru on October 21, 2016, 08:17:25 AM
Thanks for the update Joshua2036.

I did the paint work on 670 along with help from other members on the board here. Unfortunately i was very inexperienced when i did the paint on 670. You ate correct in that i failed to cut back the interline paint work far enough. If i had my time again i would do a much better job of it. I was a little disappointed in how she looked after we finished the painting. I spent a lot of money on some top quality paints however a lack of knowledge negated any quality in the product.

I wish you luck in restoring her and if you have any questions about her feel free to ask on here or via a PM.

All the best and thanks for saving her from the scrap yard.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk


thanks i will let you know but she has alot of rust now but i will do my best to resheet her to gal steel and frame work and but i need find seats for her since some have moss growing through them or rotted and a ticketing system also , i also chasing the headrest on top of the seats

The Love Guru

Ticket machines are available, there are plenty of them floating around Canberra.

The seats were almost all brand new when i had to sell her. I had almost every seat recovered in grey front-runner type fabric.

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Busnerd

He was after the seat roll tops which I had a hard time finding enough decent ones for 675.

Most operators running ex ACTION 0305's or Renaults tend to remove them as they break so it's difficult to find a full set.

Barry Drive

#80
There should be a few Renault PR100.2s at Access Recycling.

Perhaps not right now.

Joshua2036

#81
thanks for this but may have found a spare canberra merc for parts only minus engine and gearbox.

Joshua2036

quick question did canberra mercs have anything for disabled seating  like red seats or anything?

King of Buses

Quote from: Joshua2036 on October 31, 2016, 09:16:30 AM
quick question did canberra mercs have anything for disabled seating  like red seats or anything?

While I was never around during what I'm told was the glorious O305 era of ACTION, going by a picture in the ACT Bus gallery of an O305G artic (615), the O305G's did not have a red disabled seat. So I if I were to make a guess, the O305s did not have a red disabled seat - might've only been introduced with the Renault PR100.2s. You probably would want one of the slightly more matured enthusiasts to answer that (I was trying to politely say, "older enthusiasts", sorry ;) )

While there aren't (m)any interior shots on an average ACTION O305, the ACT Bus gallery might prove a useful resource for you to use for reference with this project. At least this section might be... http://www.actbus.net/gallery/page/search/tags/%22Mercedes+O.305%22/

Joshua2036

From Looks their is no inside shots of seating expt trial seating

Barry Drive

Quote from: King of Buses on October 31, 2016, 05:59:48 PM
While I was never around during what I'm told was the glorious O305 era of ACTION, going by a picture in the ACT Bus gallery of an O305G artic (615), the O305G's did not have a red disabled seat. So I if I were to make a guess, the O305s did not have a red disabled seat - might've only been introduced with the Renault PR100.2s. You probably would want one of the slightly more matured enthusiasts to answer that (I was trying to politely say, "older enthusiasts", sorry ;) )
Yes, the Mercedes O.305/O.305G era was glorious. You can forget about the "Symphony of Bus 325" since there is no better sounding bus than a Merc at high revs.

But back to the seats. There is no doubt that when new, none of the Mercedes had a red priority seat - but as the 615 photo shows they may have had the PRIORITY SEAT chin guard. Where it gets complicated is that the O.305s underwent a body refurbishment in the 1990s to bring them up to the Renault Mk2 standard - at this point it's possible that they gained red seats, but I can't say for sure either way.

Joshua2036

ah ok 670 parts bus has some red seats unknow fleet number though wasnt sure

Snorzac

If you have a VIN for the donor bus or a body number im sure we can work out a fleet number, I'm sure Barry Drive would love to be able to update the wiki.

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Joshua2036

what 670 looks like now work start on her end of this month and our aim is to have her running on liverpool shuttles (october long weekend)

Joshua2036


Busnerd


ajw373

Quote from: Barry Drive on November 01, 2016, 12:31:29 PM
Yes, the Mercedes O.305/O.305G era was glorious. You can forget about the "Symphony of Bus 325" since there is no better sounding bus than a Merc at high revs.

But back to the seats. There is no doubt that when new, none of the Mercedes had a red priority seat - but as the 615 photo shows they may have had the PRIORITY SEAT chin guard. Where it gets complicated is that the O.305s underwent a body refurbishment in the 1990s to bring them up to the Renault Mk2 standard - at this point it's possible that they gained red seats, but I can't say for sure either way.

When new it would have looked like the picture of 585 below, with the exception the seats were blue (and the seat roll same as seats not vinyl) rather than that horrid orange, or the grey they got during the mid life refurb. Don't recall any chin guards.

http://www.actbus.net/gallery/ACTION-Buses-Disposals/585-Mercedes-O305/Bus-585/Bus585-Interior.jpg

Joshua2036

Quote from: ajw373 on November 04, 2016, 12:10:03 AM
When new it would have looked like the picture of 585 below, with the exception the seats were blue (and the seat roll same as seats not vinyl) rather than that horrid orange, or the grey they got during the mid life refurb. Don't recall any chin guards.

http://www.actbus.net/gallery/ACTION-Buses-Disposals/585-Mercedes-O305/Bus-585/Bus585-Interior.jpg

most likely we are going with mid life since all the seats are grey and we are able to get a roll of that fabric

ajw373

Quote from: Joshua2036 on November 04, 2016, 09:10:56 AM
most likely we are going with mid life since all the seats are grey and we are able to get a roll of that fabric


Well it would be hard to go back to orginal anyway seeing as the midlife overhaul changed the side windows from gasket to bonded and a few other changes. Now if memory serves me right, during the midlife overhaul, the priority seat roll got changed to a yellow vinyl jobbie similar to the one in the pic of 669 below.

http://actbus.net/gallery/ACTION-Buses-Disposals/585-Mercedes-O305/Bus-669/Bus+669+-+Trial+Seating+%283%29.jpeg

The Love Guru

Pretty sure they never bonded the windows, just placed a black cover over the rubber on them so they look like they are bonded.

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ajw373

Quote from: The Love Guru on November 04, 2016, 07:09:34 PM
Pretty sure they never bonded the windows, just placed a black cover over the rubber on them so they look like they are bonded.


Seeing as you owned one will take your word for it.

Though this shot of 618, looks to me like the drivers window uses a gasket, but the passenger windows much more flush like they were bonded. And then compare to the pic of 667 pre refurb where the gasket for the passenger windows is very noticeable.

http://actbus.net/gallery/zp-core/full-image.php?a=ACTION-Buses-Disposals/585-Mercedes-O305/Bus-618&i=Bus%20618%20-%20Belconnen%20Interchange.jpg&q=75&wmk=zenlogo&dsp=Protected%20view&check=97617d0d49b34b0f4fe037a41a54478e196cd4b2

http://actbus.net/gallery/zp-core/full-image.php?a=ACTION-Buses-Disposals/585-Mercedes-O305/Bus-667&i=Bus%20667%20-%20Belconnen%20Interchange.jpg&q=75&wmk=zenlogo&dsp=Protected%20view&check=97617d0d49b34b0f4fe037a41a54478e196cd4b2

Joshua2036

chris is correct they are semi bonded windows they look like bonded windows

Joshua2036

quick update:

670 work will commence over christmas holidays and we hope to get her back to Bankstown her she will be kept and eventually repanled and re framed by customs also 670 is looking for some sort of undercover storage